ArcheAge Has a Release Date and it's Sooner Than You Think

Free-to-play "Sandpark" MMO ArcheAge will launch on September 16, Trion Worlds has announced.

This will be preceded by an open beta from September 4-8, before those who purchased Founder's Packs get to jump in on September 12.

For those not in the know about ArcheAge, it's highly-anticipated among Western MMO fans as it incorporates aspects of Sandbox gameplay. While games like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Star Wars: The Old Republic and the like are branded "Themepark" titles as you get on the ride and have a carefully orchestrated journey of fun, ArcheAge is similar to Eve Online in the sense it also hands you the tools to make your own fun, only instead of spaceships there's the usual riffs on traditional fantasy tropes.

We'll have much more on ArcheAge in the run up to launch, including our all important review.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK News Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter.